"I was shocked," Ferguson told me at the Emmy Awards Performers Peer Group Celebration at the Montage Beverly Hills hotel, explaining, "I do feel with the storyline that we had this year, he was half of a wedding. I feel the reason I'm in that category is because of that gay wedding storyline."

Saying he was "shocked" by the snub, Ferguson added, "I called him right away when I heard he didn't get nominated and I said, 'Of all the years, I feel you deserve it this year.' He told me to f-off and he hung up on me."

Stonestreet has already won two Emmys for his work on the ABC comedy. "I'm the new Susan Lucci," he said.

He cracked, "I'm also really attractive and they have a hard time not nominating me because they need me on the red carpet."

Ferguson said he's never prepared an acceptance speech but instead thinks of "bullet points" he would want to hit.

Co-star Ty Burrell, however, does write a speech beforehand. "If I don't write a speech I go into those things so anxious," said Burrell, who won an Emmy in 2011. "I'm so tense all night thinking about if I have to go up there and I haven't written something."

This year's winners will be announced Aug. 25, during a ceremony at the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles. The show will be broadcast live on NBC at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT. Late Night host and Saturday Night Live alum Seth Meyers will emcee.